Flora of Singapore precursors, 7. A newly diagnosed species of Neonauclea (Rubiaceae: Naucleeae) now extinct in Singapore and notes on Neonauclea excelsa and N. calycina

Carr, Archie; Wong, K. M.; Seah, W.W.

doi:10.26492/gbs70(2).2018-05

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, closely related tree species in the Euphorbiaceae were only recently recognised as two new records of Blumeodendron and one new record of Endospermum through painstaking taxonomic research (van Welzen et al, 2020). Some tree species may also be extremely rare and thus eluded detection, such as Margaritaria indica, first discovered in Singapore in 2014 and known to occur in very low numbers throughout its range (Low et al, 2014), and Neonauclea kranjiensis, first described in 2018 from a single specimen collected in 1894 from Singapore, now extinct and known from nowhere else in the world (Seah & Wong, 2018).…”

Section: Plant Rediscoveries and Discoveries By Life Form And Familymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The 2012 peak in rediscoveries is mostly due to the publication byChong et al (2012) of rediscoveries based on specimens collected from 2009 to 2012. Peaks in both rediscoveries and new records were observed in 2018, of which about half can be attributed to the publication of collated results from comprehensive field surveys (e.g.,Chong et al, 2018;Ho et al, 2018;Khoo et al, 2018;Lim et al, 2018) and the other half to precursor publications of the Flora of Singapore, mainly resulting from the redetermination of pre-existing specimens (e.g.,Seah & Wong, 2018;Turner, 2018;Wong & Mahyuni, 2018).The 2022 peak in rediscoveries mostly consists of those published inLindsay et al (2022), which were based on even more recent specimens such as those collected for a genome-sequencing project of the native vascular plants of the BTNR(Niissalo & Choo, 2021), and also those made by taxonomic specialists redetermining specimens for the Flora of Singapore project.Determining the site of the first collection of the rediscoveries and new records can suggest where further surveys should be targeted (Figure2d). The same sites were important for the rediscoveries and new records: the highest number of collections were from the lowland primary rain forest fragment of the BTNR (44 rediscoveries, 22 new records), followed by the last substantial area of freshwater swamp forest remaining in Singapore, the Nee Soon Swamp Forest (NSSF; 43 rediscoveries, 17 new records), and the rest of the CCNR (excluding the NSSF) that comprises a mixture of primary and nativeF I G U R E 2 Summary statistics of plant rediscoveries and new native records for Singapore in the last 14 years.…”

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confidence: 99%

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A botanical oasis rather than a biological desert: Rediscoveries, new species and new records in a tropical city

Neo,

Chong,

Lindsay

et al. 2024

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact StatementCities present a unique challenge for conservation. While overall native biodiversity is reduced, remnant habitats in the urban matrix can be important refugia for native and endemic species. This study reviews the rediscovery of 173 presumed nationally extinct plant taxa and discovery of 155 new native plant records, including 22 new to science and five endemics, in the botanically densely‐collected tropical city‐state of Singapore. The findings of this study indicate that plant rediscoveries and new discoveries are still possible in cities and urban areas with remaining fragments of original forest reserved for species protection, and investment in comprehensive botanical surveys and taxonomic research.Summary The conservation of native species‐dominated forest fragments and investment into botanical surveys and taxonomic research have enabled the rediscovery of presumed nationally extinct plant taxa and discovery of new native plant records in the tropical city‐state of Singapore. We compared national plant checklists of 2009, 2022, and the national Red Data Book (third edition in press) to enumerate rediscovered and newly discovered native vascular plant taxa in the last 14 years. We examined if these were from taxonomic specialist redetermination of only pre‐existing specimens or newly collected from field surveys, and if they were from particular sites and vegetation types, disproportionately represented by certain life forms and families, and predominantly threatened. We documented 173 rediscoveries and 155 new records after 2009, including 22 new to science and five endemics. Most rediscoveries were newly collected from field surveys, but most new records resulted from redetermination of pre‐existing specimens. Native species‐dominated forest fragments were the most important sites for the first collection of new records or first re‐collection of rediscoveries. Trees and climbers were well‐represented among the rediscoveries and new records. Epiphytes were significantly under‐represented compared to their proportion in the presumed nationally extinct flora. Most rediscoveries and new records are nationally Critically Endangered but regionally and globally not assessed. Our findings indicate hope for the persistence of rare native plant species and opportunities for conservation in cities.

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